NEO GEO (CONSOLE)

'Neo-Geo' is the name of a cartridge-based arcade and home video game system released in 1990 by Japanese game company SNK. The system offered comparatively colorful 2D graphics and high-quality sound. A major platform for arcade games at the time, the system was also available as a costly home console. The two versions of the system were known as the 'AES' (Advanced Entertainment System, the home version) and the 'MVS' (Multi Video System, the arcade version).

History

Initially, the home system was only available for rent or for use in hotel settings, but SNK quickly began selling the system through stores when customer response indicated that people were willing to spend the money. Compared to the other consoles of the time, the Neo Geo had better graphics and sound.
The home system featured two CPUs: a 16-bit Motorola 68000 main processor running at 12 MHz and an 8-bit ZiLOG Z-80A coprocessor running at 4 MHz. A custom video chipset allowed the system to display 4,096 colors and 380 individual sprites onscreen simultaneously, while the onboard Yamaha 2610 sound chip gave the system 15 channels of sound with seven channels reserved specifically for digital sound effects.
The console was planned to debut at $599 USD and included two joystick controllers and a game (either ''Baseball Stars'' or ''NAM-1975''). However, this plan was quickly scrapped and when the system had its national launch it debuted at $649.99 with two joysticks, a memory card, and a single pack-in game, ''Magician Lord'' (the early Neo Geo boxes had a gold sticker announcing the inclusion of ''Magician Lord'' over the initially planned choice of two games), this package was known as the "Gold System". The system was also released in a "Silver System" package, which included one joystick controller and did not include a game or memory card. Other games cost $200 and up — each. With these "premium" prices though, most gamers weren't able to afford the system and so the console was only accessible to a niche market.

Swedish flyer showing MVS arcade cabinets.

The Neo Geo was only to be driven further into cult status by changing mainstream tastes which soon demanded flashy, 3D graphics. Yet, the quality of Neo Geo games kept it alive in arcades, particularly in Japan, where the newest installment of the flagship ''King of Fighters'' was certain to cause a stir with each release.
The last game by SNK for the Neo Geo system, ''Samurai Spirits Zero Special'', was released on October 19, 2004. SNK decided to abandon the hardware due to the rampant piracy of games built for the system, which SNK believed was partially responsible for their bankruptcy in 2000. SNK ceased to manufacture home consoles by the end of 1997, but software for both formats and arcade hardware was produced for many years after. Measured from the introduction of the arcade hardware in 1990 to the release of the last home cartridge in 2004, the Neo Geo's 14-year official span of support from its manufacturer makes it the second longest-lived arcade or home console system ever produced, only behind the Atari 2600, which was supported from 1977 until 1992.
Despite the end of official support from SNK, many titles are still expected to be launched by third party developers. For example, a new cartridge-based game called ''Last Hope'' was released for the home console in 2006 by the independent NG:DEV.TEAM, running at 60 fps and showcasing the continued ability of the Neo Geo even sixteen years after its debut. The game features both hand-drawn and CG graphics with transparency and lighting effects as well as a techno soundtrack.
On August 31, 2007, SNK will stop offering maintenance and repairs to any of the Neo Geo home consoles, handhelds, or games [1]. They will continue to repair their arcade hardware.

Emulation

The GameTap subscription service currently includes a Neo Geo emulator and a small library of Neo Geo games.
In February of 2007 Nintendo announced on their Japanese website that Neo Geo games would appear on the Wii's Virtual Console in Japan. In April 2007, IGN has confirmed that Neo Geo games will appear on the North American Virtual Console as well. In April of 2007, SNK Playmore USA president Ben Herman has confirmed that the company will be bringing numerous titles from the Neo Geo catalogue to Nintendo Wii’s Virtual Console[2].

Technical aspects

Each joystick controller was 280mm (width) x 190mm (depth) x 95 mm (height) ( 11 x 8 x 2.5 in.) and contained the same four-button layout as the arcade MVS cabinet.
The arcade machines had a memory card system by which a player could save a game to return to at a later time, and remarkably, to be used to continue play on the SNK home console of the same name.
The arcade version of the hardware is often referred to as the "MVS," or Multi Video System (available in 1-slot, 2-slot, 4-slot, and 6-slot variations, the latter being capable of up to six cartridges loaded into one machine), with its console counterpart referred to as the "AES", or Advanced Entertainment System (most likely to distinguish it from the Nintendo Entertainment System, the dominating console on the market at the time).

Neo Geo AES motherboard. Early motherboard revisions such as this one contained daughterboards used to enhance the clarity of the video output.

The programming code is the same on both the MVS and AES hardware. In fact, owners could move EPROMs from one type to the other, and the game would still run. The program specifics for both MVS and AES game options were contained on every game ROM, whether the cartridge was intended for home or arcade use. However, the arcade and home cartridges do have a different pinout. They were designed this way to prevent arcade operators from buying the cheaper home carts and then using them in arcades.

Rom sizes and startup screens

Specification for ROM size was up to 330 megabits, hence the system displaying "MAX 330 MEGA - PRO GEAR SPEC" upon startup. While no technical changes were required to achieve it, some games over 100 megabits followed this screen by displaying an animation touting "The 100 Mega Shock". The original ROM size spec was later enhanced on cartridges with bank switching memory technology, increasing the maximum cartridge size to around 716 Mbit. These new cartridges also caused the system to display "GIGA POWER" upon startup, indicating this enhancement.

Specifications

Processor

★ Main Processor: Motorola 68000 running at 12 MHz

★
★ Although the 68000 CPU was designed by Motorola, there were many other clones of this CPU found in the Neo Geo hardware. The most common CPU is the TMP68HC000 manufactured by Toshiba. This is essentially a Motorola 68000 clone.

★ Co-Processor: Zilog Z80 running at 4 MHz. This is used as an audio controller.

★ Sound chip: Yamaha YM2610 15 Sound Channels. 7 Digital, 4 FM synthesis, 3 PSG, and 1 Noise Channel.

Memory

★ Main Memory (used directly by 68K): 64 KiB

★ Main Video Memory: 64 KiB

★
★ Palette Memory : 8 KiB

★
★ Fast Video RAM : 2 KiB

★ Sound Memory (used directly by Z80): 2 KiB

Display

★ Display resolution: 320x224 (many games only used the centermost 304 pixels)

★ Color Palette: 32,768

★ Maximum Colors On-Screen: 256

★ Maximum Sprites On-Screen: 384

★ Minimum Sprite Size: 1x2

★ Maximum Sprite Size: 16x512

★ Maximum Sprites per scanline: 96

★ Background Layers: 0

★ Aspect ratio: 4:3

★ A/V output:RF, composite video, RGB (with separate 21 pin cable FCG-9).

Sound

★ Sound CPU: Z80 at 4MHz

★ Sound hardware: YM2610 at 8MHz, stereo sounds upto 56KHz

★ 4 channels FM (4 operators + LFO)

★ 3 PSG

★ 1 noise

★ 7 4-bit ADPCM

★ Work RAM (sound): 2KB

★ Sound ROM 128KB on-board (only less then 32KB used)

★ upto 512KB sound ROM on cartridges

Power

★ Source: separate DC 5 V(older systems) and DC 9 V adapter (newer systems).

★ Consumption: 8 W older Systems, 5 W newer Systems

Dimensions

★ Console: 325mm (width) x 237mm (depth) x 60 mm (height).

★ Controller: 280mm (width) x 190mm (depth) x 95 mm (height).

Storage

★ Removable Memory Card: 8 KiB or 68-pin JEIDA ver.3 spec memory

★
★ Any 68-pin memory that fits the JEIDA ver.3 spec will work

Collecting

Home cartridges

There is a thriving collectors' scene for the Neo Geo home systems, especially the original AES home console. This is mainly because of the limited runs received by cartridges, the massive arcade library available, and the system's reputation as a 2D powerhouse. It is still common even to this day for both Neo Geo consoles and cartridges to fetch extremely high prices on eBay and other auction websites, particularly English versions of cartridges as these were produced in fewer quantities. A handful of the rarest Neo Geo games can sell for well over $1,000 on eBay. This gives the system an almost cult following, as owners see the system as more of an "investment" rather than an ordinary videogame console. This leads to high resale value on most Neo Geo systems and games and makes the console a "must-have" for a number of video game collectors. The most expensive cartridge for the Neo Geo home system is the European-localized version of ''Kizuna Encounter'': there are only four known copies of the game, with the most recently sold copy selling for $12,000 USD.

Arcade cartridges

Another sub-scene within the Neo Geo collector's market involves the MVS cartridges. Although these were initially designed for arcade use, a strong market has developed around collecting this particular format. The MVS market can be divided into two distinct groups: those who are looking for cheaper alternatives to the expensive rare home carts, and those who are interested in paying premium prices for complete arcade kits.
For those interested primarily in lower prices on rare home games, MVS carts, particularly loose carts or incomplete kits, can offer a cost effective alternative. Most MVS cartridges go for substantially less money than their home counterparts. This lower price can be associated with their lack of decoration as most were for inside arcade cabinets and lack cartridge artwork or box artwork, the high set-up cost of purchasing the MVS system, and the prevalence of bootleg cartridges. Many of the most common MVS games go for prices between $10-$150.
However, in recent years a growing market has emerged for complete MVS arcade kits. These consist of all the materials that would be initially sent to an arcade operator, including the brown cardboard shipping box (with label), the insert materials to decorate the marqee and arcade cabinet (including separate move lists), warning information, dipswitch settings, in some cases even posters and/or any packing materials. Because many of the items in an MVS kit were designed to be discarded by arcade operators, finding complete arcade kits can be difficult and thus the prices for some complete MVS kits can be quite high.
Because of the conflicting requirements and desires of the two MVS sub-groups, they rarely compete with each other for games.
Counterfeit or bootleg software is regarded in the collectors community as having zero value or very low value. Such software has a reputation for audio and video flaws, and is generally disparaged by fans of the Neo Geo systems. This software is identifiable by visual inspection of the game PCBs, or by comparison of ROM CRC values using a specially designed BIOS.

Other Neo Geo systems

Several home console systems were created based on the same hardware as the arcade games, as well as two handheld systems under the name Neo Geo Pocket.

★ Hyper Neo-Geo 64 (New Hardware, Arcade only)

★ Neo Geo CD

★ Neo Geo CDZ

★ Neo Geo Pocket

★ Neo Geo Pocket Color

Graphical development

The Neo Geo was particularly notable for its ability to bring arcade-quality graphics directly into the home. As time went on, programmers were able to further tune the games to produce higher quality graphics than previous years and eventually beyond what was initially thought possible for the system.
One of the pack-in games with the original Japanese release was ''NAM-1975'', a side-scrolling shooting game that featured multi-layer scrolling backgrounds (Fig. 1). However, the initial Neo Geo games were, graphically speaking, a little less polished than SNK's non-Neo Geo games. By 1991, games like ''King of the Monsters'' demonstrated the Neo Geo's ability to produce graphic detail that matched or surpassed contemporary arcade games from the period (Fig. 2).
In 1992, SNK's ''Art of Fighting'' marked the beginning of a series of 2-D fighting game innovations. This landmark game brought visual graphic damage to the characters faces when hit, as well as large character sprites in combination with zoom effects to intensify the action (Fig. 3). This zoom feature was also used in the following year's ''Samurai Shodown'', whose even more elaborate graphics and gameplay won it Electronic Gaming Monthly's award as the 1993 Game of the Year and launched a successful franchise. The Neo Geo also became known for its shooters, with the first successful title coming with 1994's ''Aero Fighters 2''. The following year's ''Pulstar'' managed to up the ante on both graphics and gameplay.
By the mid-1990s, SNK was trying to move onto a new platform, notably the Hyper-64. When the new 3-D system failed to take off, however, SNK found itself still developing games for its old 2-D engine. This led programmers to come up with ways to increase the limits of what was initially thought possible for the system.
Six years after the Neo Geo's initial launch, Nazca surprised the video game industry with ''Metal Slug''. A take from the ''Contra series'', ''Metal Slug'' is a run and gun game that featured cartoonish, hyper-active graphics and gameplay that also launched a very successful franchise (Fig. 4). Since the Neo Geo was unable to produce the 3-D games that began dominating arcades in the 1990s, SNK focused on mastering the realm of 2-D. With the launch of ''The Last Blade'' in 1997, SNK programmers demonstrated that the Neo Geo was still capable of producing artistically rendered graphics to match the gameplay(Fig. 5).
While the system became primarily known for its fighting games in the late-1990s, notably the ''King of Fighters'' series, 1998's ''Blazing Star'' updated the previous ''Pulstar'' with more detail. This trend of adding more detail to 2-D environments reached a plateau with 1999's '' (Fig. 6), an update of the ''Fatal Fury'' series, as well as 2000's ''Metal Slug 3'', which was the most highly rated chapter in the six-part series on the Neo Geo. By the final Neo Geo-based edition of the longstanding ''King of Fighters'' series, ''The King of Fighters 2003'', had stagnated to the level that was initially achieved at the turn of the century. In its 14 year lifespan of official support, the programmers for the Neo Geo appeared to bleed out all that the system's hardware was capable of.

Screenshots

References

★ NeoGeo Master List: a comprehensive listing of all Neo Geo games, int'l release dates, formats, meg sizes and other information (English)

★ Statistics on the releases and sizes of Neo-Geo games (French)

★ A wealth of information on the various Neo Geo consoles

External links

★ SNK Playmore USA official web site: Though no longer producing Neo-Geo consoles or games, SNK Playmore still produces newer versions of Neo-Geo games for current consoles and handhelds.

★ Neo-geo.com forum: Well established English and International Neo Geo fan community message board.

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